Dispensing apparatus



April z5, 1967 G. A. KLASSON Em, 3,315,844

DI SPENS I NG APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, 1965 ATTORNEY United StatesPatent O 3,315,844 DESPENSING PPARATUS George A. Klassen, SouthWhitehall Township, Lehigh County, and Justin W. Mills, Macungie, Pa.,assignors to Air Products and Chemicais, Inc., a corporation of DelawareFiled Jan. 13, 1965, Ser, No. 425,204

` 8 Ciaims. (Cl. 222-52) The present invention relates to apparatus fordispensing fluid material from containers and, more particularly, to areusable dispenser unit particularly adapted to be secured to disposablecontainers for dispensing the contents of such containers undercontrolled pressure.

Although the present invention has wide range of utility in connectionwith the dispensing of various materials including such diversematerials as mustard, ketchup, hair lotion, lacquers, and fruit juices,the subsequent description will be directed to the specific applicationof dispensing beverages from disposable containers smaller thanquarter-kegs- More specifically, the present invention will be describedwith reference to the dispensing of draught beer from one gallon cans.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an improveddispensing apparatus particularly designed for sequentially dispensingfluids from disposable containers at optimum regulated pressures for thevarious fluids.

It is a more specic object of the present invention to provide areusable dispenser having improved means for facilitating attachment toa disposable container.

It is another specific object of the present invention to provide a morecompact and economical dispenser particularly adapted for dispensinguids in the home or in restaurants.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fluiddispenser having a more accurate, miniaturized and fail-safe pressureregulating system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dispenser includingmeans for preventing undesired fluids from entering the pressure controlassembly as well as providing a dispenser which is readily cleanedbetween successive periods of use.

The above objects as well as others relating more particularly todetails of construction and operation will become more fully apparentfrom the following description when taken with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser attached to a disposablecontainer;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the dispenser taken along the verticalplane indicated by view line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the dispenser taken along the planesindicated by view lines 3-3 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the indicated by view line 4-4in FIGURE 2.

Referring rst to FIGURE l, the complete system includes a disposablecontainer' such as a one 4gallon can lil, a dispsensing unit 12 and afaucet 14 the latter of which is preferably of the push-button typeincluding a spigot 15. Faucet 14 may 'be connected to the dispenser 12by a rigid tube 16 as shown in FIGURE l or it will be readilyIunderstood that tube 16 may be replaced by an elongated, exible plasticor rubber hose of such length as to permit the filling of glasses heidby several persons gathered about a table, bar, or buet.

As shown most clearly n FIGURE 3, .dispensing unit 12 is composed of anintegral body 18 including a cylindricafl portion 2t) and a rectangularhead 22. Cylindrical portion 20 forms a cartridge chamber 23 adapted toreceive plane ICC a replaceable CO2 cartridge 24 which is introducedthrough open end 26. The cartridge is maintained in position by athreaded cap 28 carrying an O-ring 30 and a pin 32; the latter beingadapted to puncture cartridge 24 when the cap is fully threaded inplace. In 'order to pro/Vide maximum safety against the accidentalrelease of high pressure from the cartridge, cap 28 is designed suchthat threads 34 are securely engaged before O-ring 30 seals against thecylinder walls and, only thereafter, does pin 32 come into contact withthe cartridge. Conversely, when removing cap 23, the trapped pressure inchamber 23 is released by the disengagement of O-ring 30 before the capis completely Unthreaded from the cylinder.

As further shown in FIGURE 3, head portion- 22 of body i8 is providedwith a threaded opening 36 adapted to receive a threaded -bonnet 38 thelatter of ywhich includes a cylindrical portion 4i). I-liead portion 22is countenbored at 42 so as to provide an annular seat against which theperiphery of a diaphragm 44 is adapted to tbe clamped when cylindricalportion 4h is threaded in place. In order to facilitate rotation ofbonnet 38, a slip ring 43 is interposed between the diaphragm and theend of portion 4t). A circular backing plate 46 is secured to diaphragm44 by a rivet 4S so as to provide an abutment for one end of acompression spring Si). The opposite end or' spring Sti bears against adisc 52 which, in turn, ybears against the rrounded end of a set screw54. The position of set screw 54 is adapted to be adjusted so as to setthe biasing force of spring Sii and, when the screw is in its pro-percountersunk position, it is adapted to be covered 'by a tamper-proofplastic plug :76. Thus, diaphragm 144 and bonnet 3S form a springchamber Se which is open to atmosphere through ports 60.

On the opposite side of diaphragm 44, a pressure control chamber 62 isformed #by the diaphragm and the counterbored cavity in head portion2.2. Control chamber o2 is in communication with cartridge chamber 23through a central bore 64 the left end of which is counterbored toreceive a sintered metallic filter 65. The right end of bore 64 isthreaded at 63 so as to receive `a stem valve 72 which is of the generaltype employed in automobile tires. The midportio'n of valve 72 is forcedinto sealing engagement with the tapered midportion 7h of bore 64 andthe stern 74 is in engagement with rivet 48. Thus, valve 72 controls thepassage of carbon dioxide gas from cartridge chamber 23 to controlchamber 62 in accordance with the position of diaphragm 44. It willtherefore be apparent that tlhe above described elements within headportion 22 form a pressure reduction and control assembly whereby thehigh pressure in cartridge chamber 23, which is in the order of 900`psi., is reduced to a regulated pressure in the order of l5 p.s.i. incontrol chamber 62.

As further shown in FIGURE 3, control chamber 62 is i-n communicationwith a check valve chamber 76 containing a resilient check valve 78which is retained in position by a press fitted retainer 8i). As willsub sequently become apparent, the purpose of check valve it is topositively prevent the bacldlow of either gas or liquid into thepressure control chamber 62 and valve 72.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, check valve chamber 76 is in communicationthrough passages 82 and 84 with a relief valve chamber 86 containing aresilient ball valve g8. The ball is biased into engagement with seat 37`by a spring 9h which is secured in position by a threaded retainer 92.As will become more fully apparent from the subsequent description,valve 88 operates as a safety valve to release excessive pressure in thesystem in the event of a malfunction in the pressure regulator and/or inthe event of a pressure build-up in the container caused V.' y a warmingof the carbonated beverage Container herein. Valve 88 is set open atpressure of 2 to 5 p.s.i. tbove the pressure of p.s.i. normallymaintained in :ontrol chamber 62, whereby, the valve insures the drawngof the beverage with a proper amount of foam or head.

The structure whereby the dispenser is attached to can l() will now `bedescribed with particular reference to FIGURE 2 wherein it will be notedthat head 22 con- :ains a vertically extending bore 94 and a counterbore96 within which there is positioned a locking stem 98. Stem 98 includesa central passage 101i extending the full length of the stem and thelower end is serrated at 1112 for attachment to a dip tube 10ft adaptedto extend to the bottom of container 11i. Stem 13 further includes apair of radially extending tabs 1116 and 107, a quadruple-threadedportion 1118, and a plurality of grooves for receiving O-rings 112 and114 which seal the stem within body 22. In addition, stem 93 includes asecond vertical passage 116 which extends through the enlargedmidportion of the stem from charnber 118, formed by counterbore 96, tothe underneath side of tab 1%. Thus, it will be noted that chamber 118is in open communication with the several passages including passage 32leading to check valve chamber '76, passage S4 leading to relief valvechamber 86, and passage 116 leading to the underneath side of tab 101i.

As further shown in FIGURE 2, the upper end of stem 9S is provided withradial ports 120 and 121 which are adapted to receive the end portion ofan adapter 122 whereby adapter 122 locks the stern in position againstboth axial and rotary movement. Adapter 122 contains a plurality ofports 123 which `connect passage liti() with a passage 12S in theadapter. In addition, adapter 122 includes threads 124, a groove forO-ring 126, a nut portion 128, and threads 13) the latter of whichpermit the connection to tube 16.

As illustrated in dotted line in FIGURE 2, the top of the container orcan lid 132 is recessed at 131 and includes a central aperture 134 whichmay be closed and sealed by a removable plug (not shown) when the can islled with the beverage; cans having such recesses, apertures, andremovable plugs being commercially available and forming no portion ofthe present invention. In order to attach and seal the dispenser to sucha can, locking stern 98 is surrounded by a threaded ring 136 adapted tomove vertically downward from the illustrated position upon rotation ofthe ring about stem 98. A rod or handle 138 is provided in order tofacilitate such rotary movement of the ring. Lastly, it will be notedthat annular grooves `are provided in stem 9S and ring 136 so as toreceive O-rings 140 and 142 the irst of which seals ring 136 about stem98 while the latter is adapted to seal the ring to the top of can lid132 when the ring is moved downwardly into engagement therewith. It willtherefore be apparent that ring 136 and tabs Mi-1W are designed toremovably clamp and seal the dispenser unit to can lid 132 whereby thedispenser and container become an integrated dispensing system as shownin FIGURE l.

The general use and operation of the invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGURES 1 through 3 taken collectively. The user firstremoves the plug closing aperture 134 in the top of can 11) and insertsdip tube 11141 into the can. The dispensing unit is then Vtiltedslightly so that tab 1% is inserted below the edge of aperture 13d. Thestern 98 is then moved laterally into engagement with the same edge ofthe aperture whereby tab 107 clears the opposite edge of the apertureand is inserted therein. The dispenser is then lowered so that chamferededge 137 centers the dispenser by engagement with recess 131. Of course,it is to be understood that the radial lengths of tabs 166 and 107 arepredetermined with reference to a standard size aperture such that thetabs overlap both edges of the aperture but are not too large as toprevent easy insertion upon slight tilting of the unit in the mannerjust described.

Once the tabs have been inserted so as to extend beneath the edges ofthe aperture, ring is rotated relative to stem 9S by movement of handle138 and, due to the fact that threads 1% arequadruple-lead threads,rotation of the ring through less than degrees is suicient to bringO-ring 142 into tight sealing engagement with the top of the can lid. Inthis manner, the dispensing unit becomes firmly attached and sealed tothe can such that the cylindrical portion 211 of the dispenser may beused as a handle in lifting and transporting the combined dispenser andcan as a highly portable dispensing system.

After the dispenser is sealed to the can in the manner just described,the unit `may `be pressurized by unthreading cap 2S and inserting acommercially available CO2 cartridge 2li into chamber 23. Cap 28 is thenreplaced and pin 32 automatically punctures the end of the cartridgewhen the cap is fully threaded into the position iilustrated in FIGURE3. As a result, high pressure CO2 gas is immediately released in chamber23 and the gas4 begins to ow through lter 66. as a vaporizer in that theporous sintered metal provides a multiplicity of minute expansion oricespermitting passage of gas but preventing the passage of any solid orliquid CO2. The gas passing through the filter flows through valve 72which is open at that time since spring biased diaphragm 4d is unopposedby any effective pressure in control chamber 62; the diaphragm therebyengaging stern 714 and holding valve 72 open. The gas continues to flowthrough exible check valve 78, chamber 76, and passage 82 to chamber 118from which it continues to ow through passage 116 into the top ofcontainer 1t) thereby pressurizing the container and the beveragetherein. The above described ow of gas continues until control chamber62 and the interior of the container reach a predetermined pressure suchas 15 p.s.i. at which point the predetermined biasing force of spring5t) is overcome, whereupon, the diaphragm moves to the right and permitsthe valve 72 to close. Thus, a regulated pressure is maintained incontrol chamber 62 and within the container until such time as thewithdrawal of beverage through dip tube 104, passages 11111 and 125,tube 16, and faucet 14 reduces the pressure in chamber 62, whereupon,diaphragm 44 opens valve 72 so as to admit further gas to the chamberand restore the pressure to its predetermined value. It will thereforebe apparent that the pressure is continually regulated so as to maintainan optimum pressure in the system. It will also be apparent thatdifferent optimum pressures may be utilized for dispensing differentmaterials by employing various initial settings of set screw 54 whichdetermines the biasing force of spring 5i).

So long as the above `described pressures in control cham-ber 62 and can10 remain below a predetermined maximum value, safety valve l83 remainsclosed and is not involved in the operation. However, in the unlikely`but possible event of a component failure in the pressure regulatingsystem, any increase of pressure in chamber 62 will be communicatedthrough check valve 76 and passages i82 and 84 to chamber y'26 and ballvalve 88 which would then open and .release the undesired pressure.Thus, valve $8 provides a secondary control to positively prevent thetransmission of high pressure `from cartridge chamber 23 to can 10thereby insuring against the danger of the can rupturing under highpressure. In addition to this function, valve 8S also provides for anautomatic release of excessive pressure. in the event that a warming ofthe can contents causes an undesired pressure rise in the can itself.This is of particular importance in case of dispensing beverages such asunpasteurized draught beer wherein a warming of the beer is capable ofcreating undesirable head pressures in the can Filter 66 operates whichtend to cause foaming released.

The present dispenser also provides a second safety feature in that thearea and force of engagement of diaphragm -44 'by bonnet 38 is such asto permit the edges of the beer if not properly of the diaphragm to pullaway from annular seat 42 in p the event of an extreme pressure build-upin chamber 62. Thus, even in the event that valve 72 was totallydefective and permitted unobstructed flow of high pressure gas intocham-ber 62 at a rate faster than could 'be released by valve 88, thediaphragm 44 would pull out of clamped engagement and permit pressurerelease through ports `60.

It should a-lso 'be noted that the likelihood of a failure in thepressure control assembly is substantially reduced by the fact thatfilter 66 and check valve 78 effectively isolate the assembly from al1harmful foreign matter. Thus, neither dirt nor the liquid Ibeingdispensed can enter the assembly and cause sticking of the valve orother malfunction of the assembly. In addition, filter 66 and valve 78perform a sanitary function in preventing the dispensed beverage frombecoming .trapped in the assem-bly.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the presentinvention accomplishes al1 of the objects set forth hereinbefore andtha-t it provides a dispensing system which is miniaturized, economical,reliable, safe, and easy to operate. Of course, it is to be understoodthat the foregoing description of a single embodiment of the inventionis intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive of the principlesof the invention and that numerous changes and modifications may Ibemade therein without departing from the true scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims including all patentable equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing system comprising: a source of high pressure gas, adisposable container filled with material to be dispensed, a fluidpressure regulator having an inlet for receiving high pressure gas fromsaid source, a filter in said inlet pervious to gas and impervious tosolids and liquids, an outlet for discharging gas to said container at aregulated output pressure less than that at said inlet, said regulatorincluding means forming a chamber, a first passage connecting said inletwith said chamber, a valve controlling the flow of gas through -saidpassage, pressure responsive means in said cham-ber connected to actuatesaid valve, a second passage connecting said chamber with said outlet, aflexible check valve in said second passage, and means for setting saidpressure responsive means to close said valve at a predeterminedpressure less than that at said inlet.

2. In a dispensing system including a disposable container having a wallwith a neckless aperture therethrough, the invention comprising: areusable fiuid pressurizing unit, first and second clamping meanspositively secured to said unit, said first clamping means beingnonrotationally secured to said unit and including clamping proj-ectionsof a size and sha-pe so as to be insertable through said aperture fromthe external side thereof and engage the interior surface of said walladjacent said aperture, pressurizing passage means ex-etnding throughsaid first clamping means, means mounting said lsecond cla-mping meansfor releasable engagement with the exterior surface of said wall wherebysaid wall is releasably clamped between said first and second clampingmeans, a fluid storage chamber in said unit for containing apressurizing fluid under high pressure, a fluid pressure regulator insaid unit having an inlet and an outlet, first passage means maintainingsaid storage chamber in communication with said regulator inlet, andsecond passage means connected to said regulator outlet for conductingsaid pressurizing fiuid through said pressurizing passage means intosaid container when said unit is releasably attached thereto by saidfirst and second clamping means.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further including a faucet andthird passage means connected thereto and extending through at least aportion of said unit, through said first clamping means and into saidcontainer for dispensing materia-l from said container through saidfaucet.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first clamping meanscomprise a stem having a first portion nonrotationally secured to saidunit and a second portion extending away from said unit, and a pair oftabs rigidly secured to said second portion and projecting laterallytherefrom a predetermined distance slightly greater than the diameter ofsaid aperture.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second clampingmeans comprises a member threadedly secured to said stem so as to moveinto engagement with said container wall upon rotation of said memberrelative to said stem.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rst clamping meanscomprises an elongated stem having one end received in said unit, andoutlet adapter means locking said one end of said stem in said unit.

7. A tiuid pressurizing device for use in dispensing materials under aregulated uid pressure comprising: means forming an integral l'bodyhaving iirst and second portions, a iiuid storage chamber positionedwithin said first body portion for containing a charge of pressurizingfluid under high pressure, means including a iiexible diaphragm forminga pressure control chamber positioned in said second body portion, afirst passage connecting said fluid storage chamber with said pressurecontrol chamber, a filter in said passage pervious to gas and imperviousto both solids and liquids, a Valve in `said first passage downstream ofsaid vfilter for controlling the iiow of pressurizing fluid from saidstorage chamber to said control chamber, means connecting said diaphragmto said valve for actuating said valve in response to pressure changesin said pressure control chamber, an outlet in said body, a secondpassage connecting said pressure lcon-trol chamber with said outlet, aflexible check valve positioned with-in said second passage forpermitting fluid iiow from said pressure control chamber to said outletwhile preventing fluid How in the opposite direction, a relief valve insaid body having an inlet and Ian outlet, said relief valve outlet beingin communication with atmosphere, and a third passage connecting saidrelief valve inlet with said second passage at a point intermediate saidoutlet and said flexible check valve whereby said relief valve isoperative to prevent excessive pressures from arising on either side ofsaid fiexi'ble check valve.

`8. In a dispensing system including a disposable container having awall |with a necliless aperture therethrough, the invention comprising:a reusable fiuid pressurizing unit, first and second clamping -meanspositively secured to said unit, said first clamping means being of asize and shape so as to be inserta-ble through said aperture from theexternal side thereof and engage the interior surface of said walladjacent said aperture, means mounting said second clamping means forreleasable engagement with the exterior surface of said wall wherebysaid wall is releasably clamped between said first and second clampingmeans, a fluid storage chamber in said unit for con- .taining apressurizing fluid under high pressure, a fluid pressure regulator insaid unit having an inlet and an outlet, first passage means maintainingsaid storage charn- `ber in communication with said regulator inlet,second passage means connected to said regulator outlet for conductingsaid pressurizing iluid into said container when said unit isreleasa'bly attached thereto by said first and second clamping means, afiexible check valve positioned in said second passage means immediatelyadjacent said regulator outlet, and a filter in said first passage meanspervious `to gas and impervious to both solids and liquids.

(References ou following page) 7 8 References Cited bythe Examiner3,127,059 3/ 1964 Lawrence et al. 222-399 X UNITED STATES PATENTS3,149,758 l 9/1964 BUSh Gt 211 222-189 1,234,939 7/ 1917 Schmid 222-399X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,617,992 2/1927 Drake 222--475 X 5 103,116 5/1399Germans/ 1,647,219 11/1927 Fulton 222-383 X 2,007,270 7/1935 Dodge251-352 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. 2,423,173 7/1947 Brady eta1. 222-189 l 3,012,694 12/1961 Johnston 222 5 EVON C- BLUNK Exammeh3,026,006 3/1962 Frankfurt Z22-400.7 N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner.

3,039,661 6/1962 Wentz et a1. 222-396 10

2. IN A DISPENSING SYSTEM INCLUDING A DISPOSABLE CONTAINER HAVING A WALLWITH A NECKLESS APERTURE THERETHROUGH, THE INVENTION COMPRISING: AREUSABLE FLUID PRESSURIZING UNIT, FIRST AND SECOND CLAMPING MEANSPOSITIVELY SECURED TO SAID UNIT, SAID FIRST CLAMPING MEANS BEINGNONROTATIONALLY SECURED TO SAID UNIT AND INCLUDING CLAMPING PROJECTIONSOF A SIZE AND SHAPE SO AS TO BE INSERTABLE THROUGH SAID APERTURE FROMTHE EXTERNAL SIDE THEREOF AND ENGAGE THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID WALLADJACENT SAID APERTURE, PRESSURIZING PASSAGE MEANS EXTENDING THROUGHSAID FIRST CLAMPING MEANS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECOND CLAMPING MEANS FORRELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID WALL WHEREBYSAID WALL IS RELEASABLY CLAMPED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND CLAMPINGMEANS, A FLUID STORAGE CHAMBER IN SAID UNIT FOR CONTAINING APRESSURIZING